Sanitary napkin



SANITARY NAPKIN Filed July 14 f1. LJ'. 55.7115527511 t UNITED -STAT Patented Map. `9, 1937 sANrrARY Napkin` Harry J. Schaeffer, New Brunswick, N. J., assigner to Johnson &` Johnson, New Brunswick, N. J.,

` l v a corporation of New N I Application July 14,

` 2 Claims.l

The invention is addressed to sanitary napkins, more particularly to napkins of the `disposable type,` embodying a disintegrated cellulosic fiber filler having fluffy characteristics and wrapped in 5 an envelope constituted of a layer or layers of porous sheets of cellulosic material, the jacketed filling being enclosed in the conventional gauze casing.

Structures of this general kind suier the disadvantage of impaired ei`ciency due to lateral Y spreading of fluids by reason of the transverse creeping of the cellulosic sheets. Moreover, the

`cellulosic retaining sheets have a certain degree of rigidity and av certain inherent abrasiveness which'practically nullifies the soft, iiuffy; conformable` properties of the filler and this is more or less true whether the retaining `cellulosic sheets and the gauze or one or the other be covered or lined with a softening medium.

the efficiency of the absorbent pad or ller by eliminating conditions that make for lateral spreading of fluids; to provide for `using surgical absorbent cotton, as a replacement for the retaining sheets of cellulosic material, thereby auginenting the soft and conformable properties of the fluffy filler and imparting to it qualities closely akin to the soft downy feel of a pad constructed entirely of fibrous cotton; and to impart great strength which otherwise would be lacking in the cotton film by treating it in such way as to impart strength without sacrifice of softness or other characteristics making for ease and comfort; and to pr'ovide filler retaining means hav- `ing all of the advantages aforementioned plus the further merit and advantage that it is silent or quiescent in that it obviates all possibility of rustling noises or sounds so characteristic of the conventional cellulosic sheets.

The nature, characteristic features, and scope of the invention more readily will be understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an absorbent pad or filling having a` retaining film embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view principally in diagram indicative `of the cotton treatment.

Fig. 3 is asimilar view of a lay-out calculated to produce a unified structure comprising gauze casing material, and fibrous cotton.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the absorbent pad and 55 retaining film, the latter being partially opened Objects of the invention are greatly to promote Jersey Y 1934, serial No. '135.249 'f (c1. 12a-29o) up to indicate the manner of relation to the pad.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the vcomplete assembly of absorbent pad or filling, retaining lm, and gauze casing, the retaining film and gauze casing being indicated as a unified structure.

In the drawing, 5 represents an absorbent pad its `assembly with or filling of disintegrated or fiberized cellulosicA material of fluffy characteristics and readily disposable after use via the usual facilities; 6 represents its retaining medium; and 1 represents thegauze envelope.

According to the invention the relatively hard,

abrasive and rustling sheeted cellulosic material, sometimes employed to prevent fugitive action` of the filling medium, is replaced by material that is soft and conformable and substantially devoid of iiuid spreading properties and which possesses the added merit of being soundproof.

In the practice of the invention the replacement material is a thin sheet-like web or film of fibrous cotton specially treated in order to impart to it the strength which inherently it lacks'and in order to reduce its capillary properties for the purpose and with the result of substantially retarding or of actually preventing spreading and eventual escape of fluids via the side margins of the filling. The specially treated cotton film or filler retaining medium may exist as a structure per se, that is to say, a structure independent of the gauze casing or itmay be associated with the gauze casing in a unified structure.

In either case the film is by preference substantially the full dimension of the gauze casing. The independent structure is indicated at 8 and the unified structure is indicated at 9. The treatment of the cotton iilm is substantially what may be termed a sizing operation, inthe performf ance of which a web of cotton I0 is lcd through a sizing bath Il and, subsequently, dried and storage rolled for eventual use as desired or, immediately afterdrying, laminated'with a web of gauze, the laminated structure being cut to delsired length and Width for ultimate duty as a casing or wrapper for a sanitary napkin. The practice may be varied (according to the napkin manufacturing facilities) by loosely enfolding the absorbent pad or filling with the cotton lm of the invention of a width suiiicient for its longitudinal edges to overlap in freely conformable relation and of a length to provide endwise ranging extensions I2 commensurate with the tabs of thenapkin, the filmed filler being subsequently shrouded by the conventional gauze'envelope.

In the treatment of the cotton lm various gums, such as are generally used in cloth finishing, may be employed so long as they insure light sizing which is essential so as not to detract from or impair the inherent softness of the film. EX- ceiient results have followed the use of an aqueous bath carrying 40 ounces of dextrinized starch to 100 gallons of Water. Under conditions in which the cotton film is independent of the gauze casing, it is preferred to pass a web of cotton of film characteristics through rolls I3 wetted with the solution. Under conditions in which the sized film and gauze casing material are formed as a unified structure any desired amount of cotton I4 can be delivered from the requisite number of cards onto a web of gauze l5, the resulting laminated structure or filmed gauze being run through a size bath I6 and subsequently dried and rolled. Having described the invention, I claim:-

1. A sanitary napkin comprising a disposable filling, a gauze casing, and a non-rustling retaining envelope for the filling and comprising a carded sheet-like lrn of fibrous absorbent cotton modified by sizing throughout its surface area to interlock and lay the fibers Without impairing the inherent softness of the cotton, whereby the assemblage of napkin components is substantially free from rusting tendency and leakage via the side margins of the filling is substantially inhibited.

2. A sanitary napkin comprising a filling of cellulosic material, a gauze casing, and an interventing carded sheet or film of soft fibrous cotton containing a light size to strengthen the film without impairing its inherent down-like feel, said sizing permitting normal passage of fluids but effective tov prevent lateral spreading thereof.

HARRY J. SCHAEF'FER. 

